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1 Kings 2:20 "I have just one small request of you," she said. "Do not deny me." "Make your request, my mother," the king replied, "for I will not deny you."
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And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_kings/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_kings/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_kings/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_kings/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_kings/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not turn me away.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not turn you away.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_kings/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_kings/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.” “Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_kings/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down."” Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_kings/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_kings/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Bathsheba sat down and then asked, "Would you do me a small favor?" Solomon replied, "Mother, just tell me what you want, and I will do it." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_kings/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not deny thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_kings/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"I'm asking you for one little thing," she said. "Don't refuse me." "Ask, Mother," the king told her. "I won't refuse you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_kings/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />She said, "I have a small favor to ask of you; please do not refuse me." "What is it, mother?" he asked. "I will not refuse you." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_kings/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />and told him, "I would like to make a minor request of you. Please don't refuse me." "What is your request, mother?" the king asked her. "I won't turn you down."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_kings/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?I have just one small request of you,? she said. ?Do not deny me.? ?Make your request, my mother,? the king replied, ?for I will not deny you.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_kings/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />She said, "I would like to ask you for just one small favor. Please don't refuse me." He said, "Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_kings/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, "I ask one small petition of you; do not deny me." The king said to her, "Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_kings/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, deny me not. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not deny thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_kings/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_kings/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And she says, “I ask one small petition of you, do not turn back my face”; and the king says to her, “Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back your face.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_kings/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And she saith, 'One small petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;' and the king saith to her, 'Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_kings/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And she will say, One small asking I ask from thee; thou wilt not turn away my face. And the king will say to her, Ask, my mother, for I will not turn away thy face.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_kings/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_kings/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And she said to him: “I petition one small request from you. May you not confound my face.” And the king said to her: “Ask, my mother. For it is not right that I turn away your face.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_kings/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />She said, “There is one small favor I would ask of you. Do not refuse me.” The king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not refuse you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_kings/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And she said: “One small request I ask of you. Do not turn away my face.” And the King said to her: “Ask me, mother, for I will not turn away your face.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_kings/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then she said: 'I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not.' And the king said unto her: 'Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_kings/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And she said to him, I ask of thee one little request; turn not away my face from thee. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, and I will not reject thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_kings/2-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=785" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/2.htm">The Execution of Adonijah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">“I</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’a·ḥaṯ (Number-fsc) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">have just one</a> <a href="/hebrew/6996.htm" title="6996: qə·ṭan·nāh (Adj-fs) -- Small, young, unimportant. Or qaton; from quwt; abbreviated, i.e. Diminutive, literally or figuratively.">small</a> <a href="/hebrew/7596.htm" title="7596: šə·’ê·lāh (N-fs) -- Request, thing asked for. Or shelah; from sha'al; a petition; by implication, a loan.">request of you,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wat·tō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">she said.</a> <a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">“Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: tā·šeḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf.Jus-2ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">deny</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pā·nāy (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">me.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/7592.htm" title="7592: šō·’e·leṯ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To ask, inquire. Or shael; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.">“Make your request,</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: mê·’it·tāḵ (Prep-m:: DirObjM:: 2ms) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: ’im·mî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">my mother,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: ham·me·leḵ (Art:: N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">the king</a> <a href="/hebrew/7592.htm" title="7592: ša·’ă·lî (V-Qal-Imp-fs) -- To ask, inquire. Or shael; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">“for</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">I will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: ’ā·šîḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">deny</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pā·nā·yiḵ (N-cpc:: 2fs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">you.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/esther/5-3.htm">Esther 5:3</a></span><br />“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/14-7.htm">Matthew 14:7-9</a></span><br />so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. / Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” / The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/6-22.htm">Mark 6:22-26</a></span><br />When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” / And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” / Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/2-3.htm">John 2:3-5</a></span><br />When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” / “Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” / His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/14-13.htm">John 14:13-14</a></span><br />And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-7.htm">John 15:7</a></span><br />If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/16-23.htm">John 16:23-24</a></span><br />In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-14.htm">1 John 5:14-15</a></span><br />And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-27.htm">Genesis 18:27-32</a></span><br />Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes— / suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” / Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/19-21.htm">Genesis 19:21</a></span><br />“Very well,” he answered, “I will grant this request as well, and will not demolish the town you indicate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-17.htm">1 Samuel 1:17</a></span><br />“Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/25-35.htm">1 Samuel 25:35</a></span><br />Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/14-11.htm">2 Samuel 14:11</a></span><br />“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/19-38.htm">2 Samuel 19:38</a></span><br />The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-5.htm">1 Kings 3:5</a></span><br />One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then she said, I desire one small petition of you; I pray you, say me not no. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say you no.</p><p class="hdg">I desire</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/20-20.htm">Matthew 20:20,21</a></b></br> Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping <i>him</i>, and desiring a certain thing of him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/2-3.htm">John 2:3,4</a></b></br> And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine… </p><p class="hdg">Ask on</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Matthew 7:7-11</a></b></br> Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/18-19.htm">Matthew 18:19</a></b></br> Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/10-35.htm">Matthew 10:35,36</a></b></br> For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_kings/2-16.htm">Deny</a> <a href="/1_kings/1-16.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-17.htm">Face</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-16.htm">Making</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-19.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-16.htm">Petition</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-17.htm">Refuse</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-18.htm">Request</a> <a href="/2_samuel/22-43.htm">Small</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-17.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/20-7.htm">Deny</a> <a href="/1_kings/5-8.htm">Desire</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-14.htm">Face</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-40.htm">Making</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-22.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-7.htm">Petition</a> <a href="/2_kings/2-17.htm">Refuse</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-23.htm">Request</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-33.htm">Small</a> <a href="/1_kings/2-28.htm">Turn</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-1.htm">David, having given a charge to Solomon</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-3.htm">of Reverence</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-5.htm">of Joab</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-7.htm">of Barzillai</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-8.htm">of Shimei</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-10.htm">Solomon succeeds</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-12.htm">Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-13.htm">is put to death</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-26.htm">Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-28.htm">Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-35.htm">Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/2-36.htm">Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the cultural context of ancient Israel, a queen mother held a significant position of influence and respect. Bathsheba's approach to Solomon reflects the protocol and respect due to a king, even from his own mother. The use of "small request" suggests humility and an appeal to Solomon's sense of duty and familial loyalty.<p><b>she said.</b><br>This indicates Bathsheba's direct communication with Solomon. In the narrative of 1 Kings, Bathsheba's role is pivotal, as she was instrumental in securing Solomon's succession to the throne. Her speech here is part of a larger narrative where she intercedes on behalf of Adonijah, Solomon's older brother, who had previously attempted to usurp the throne.<p><b>Do not deny me.</b><br>This plea underscores the seriousness of Bathsheba's request. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, a request from a mother, especially a queen mother, carried significant weight. The phrase "do not deny me" is a common idiom in biblical literature, often used to express earnestness and the expectation of a favorable response. It reflects the relational dynamics and the expectation of honor and obedience within the family structure.<p><b>Make your request, my mother,</b><br>Solomon's response shows respect and acknowledgment of Bathsheba's position. By addressing her as "my mother," Solomon affirms her authority and the special bond they share. This interaction highlights the importance of family ties and the respect for parental figures in biblical narratives. Solomon's willingness to hear her request demonstrates his wisdom and understanding of the cultural norms of honoring one's parents.<p><b>the king replied,</b><br>This phrase emphasizes Solomon's royal status and authority. As king, Solomon had the power to grant or deny requests, and his response is significant in the context of his reign. The narrative of 1 Kings often contrasts Solomon's wisdom and discernment with the political and familial challenges he faces. His reply here is measured and respectful, indicative of his character as portrayed in the biblical text.<p><b>for I will not deny you.</b><br>Solomon's assurance to Bathsheba reflects his commitment to honor her request, highlighting the cultural expectation of filial piety. This promise also sets the stage for the unfolding events, where Solomon must balance personal loyalty with his kingly duties. The phrase can be seen as a foreshadowing of the challenges Solomon will face in maintaining justice and righteousness, themes central to his reign and wisdom literature. Solomon's willingness to grant Bathsheba's request can be seen as a type of Christ, who also fulfills the requests of those who come to Him in faith.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/bathsheba.htm">Bathsheba</a></b><br>The mother of King Solomon, Bathsheba approaches her son with a request. Her role as the queen mother gives her a position of influence in the royal court.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/k/king_solomon.htm">King Solomon</a></b><br>The son of David and Bathsheba, Solomon is the newly anointed king of Israel. His response to his mother reflects both respect and the weight of his royal authority.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_royal_court.htm">The Royal Court</a></b><br>The setting is the royal court of Israel, where matters of state and personal requests are brought before the king.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/adonijah's_request.htm">Adonijah's Request</a></b><br>The context of this verse involves Adonijah, Solomon's older brother, who previously attempted to claim the throne. Bathsheba's request is on behalf of Adonijah, which has political implications.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_throne_of_israel.htm">The Throne of Israel</a></b><br>The central symbol of authority and governance in Israel, representing God's covenant with David and his descendants.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_parental_authority.htm">Respect for Parental Authority</a></b><br>Solomon's willingness to listen to Bathsheba demonstrates the biblical principle of honoring one's parents, which is foundational in Christian ethics.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_in_leadership.htm">Wisdom in Leadership</a></b><br>Solomon's response shows the importance of discernment and wisdom in leadership, especially when dealing with family and political matters.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_godly_counsel.htm">The Influence of Godly Counsel</a></b><br>Bathsheba's position as queen mother highlights the impact of godly counsel and influence in the lives of leaders.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_complexity_of_family_dynamics.htm">The Complexity of Family Dynamics</a></b><br>The request involves navigating complex family relationships, reminding us of the need for grace and wisdom in our own family interactions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_god_in_leadership.htm">The Sovereignty of God in Leadership</a></b><br>Despite human plans and requests, God's sovereign will ultimately prevails, as seen in Solomon's reign.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_kings_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_abijam's_mother_named_differently.htm">In 1 Kings 15:2, why does Abijam's mother appear as 'Maachah,' while 2 Chronicles 13:2 identifies her differently?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_the_discrepancy_on_jehoshaphat's_actions.htm">In 1 Kings 22:43, why does the text imply Jehoshaphat removed high places when 2 Chronicles 20:33 suggests otherwise?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/was_abijah's_mother_michaiah_or_maachah.htm">What was King Abijah's mother's name: Michaiah (2 Chronicles 13:2) or Maachah (2 Chronicles 11:20), given Absalom's only daughter was Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_1_kings_20_and_other_texts_on_ahab_compare.htm">How do the details of King Ahab's military campaigns in 1 Kings 20 align or conflict with other biblical passages about his reign?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee.</span> [So it seemed, no doubt, to her, in her inexperience and ignorance of Adonijah's real motives. She thought she held the threads of a love story in her hands, and that it would be a small thing for Solomon to make these handsome lovers happy]: <span class="cmt_word">I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.</span> [The readiness of the king to grant <span class="accented">whatever</span> she asked proves that the reasons which induced him to deny her request must have been weighty; <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, Adonijah's suit cannot have been devoid of political consequences. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_kings/2-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“I</span><br /><span class="heb">אָֽנֹכִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·nō·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have just one</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחַ֤ת</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">small</span><br /><span class="heb">קְטַנָּה֙</span> <span class="translit">(qə·ṭan·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6996.htm">Strong's 6996: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small, young, unimportant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">request of you,”</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁאֵלָ֨ה</span> <span class="translit">(šə·’ê·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7596.htm">Strong's 7596: </a> </span><span class="str2">Request, thing asked for</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she said.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתֹּ֗אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Do not</span><br /><span class="heb">אַל־</span> <span class="translit">(’al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">deny</span><br /><span class="heb">תָּ֖שֶׁב</span> <span class="translit">(tā·šeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me.”</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּנָ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(pā·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Make your request,</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת</span> <span class="translit">(šō·’e·leṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7592.htm">Strong's 7592: </a> </span><span class="str2">To inquire, to request, to demand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my mother,”</span><br /><span class="heb">אִמִּ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(’im·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the king</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙</span> <span class="translit">(ham·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּֽאמֶר־</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">deny</span><br /><span class="heb">אָשִׁ֖יב</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·šîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you.”</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּנָֽיִךְ׃</span> <span class="translit">(pā·nā·yiḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_kings/2-20.htm">1 Kings 2:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_kings/2-20.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 2:20 Then she said I ask one small (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/2-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 2:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 2:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/2-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 2:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 2:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>